Archive · 6 Aug 2026
BJP Corporator Akash Purohit Remanded to Judicial Custody
A man named Akash Purohit is a city leader for a political party in Mumbai.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, many people protested because their electricity bills went up.
Police say that at the protest, Purohit and 19 other people kept the manager of the city's bus and electricity company trapped and pushed police officers.
Because of this, a court has been holding a trial against him.
On Wednesday, Purohit was supposed to be in court, but he showed up late.
A judge had already issued an arrest warrant because he had missed court hearings before.
His lawyers said heavy traffic and a big crowd outside the court made him late.
The judge did not believe the excuse and said Purohit was using tricks to slow down the trial.
So the judge sent him to jail and said no to bail, and now his lawyers will ask the Bombay High Court to let him out.
The Special MP and MLA Court in Mumbai remanded BJP corporator Akash Purohit to judicial custody after rejecting his bail plea and his plea to cancel a non-bailable warrant (NBW).
The case stems from a 2020 protest over electricity bill hikes during the COVID-19 lockdown, for which Purohit and 19 others were booked at Colaba Police Station for allegedly confining the then BEST general manager and assaulting police personnel.
The NBW was issued after Purohit failed to appear for a hearing scheduled to record the investigating officer's deposition, which required his presence for identification; the hearing was adjourned when he and some other accused did not show up.
His counsel cited heavy traffic and a large crowd outside the court, but Special Judge Mahesh Jadhav said Purohit was deliberately using delaying tactics and had previously paid a Rs 2,000 fine to cancel similar warrants.
Purohit, son of late former Maharashtra minister Raj Purohit, is expected to move the Bombay High Court for bail on Thursday, sources said.
- Who
- Akash Purohit, a BJP corporator and son of late former Maharashtra minister Raj Purohit; 19 others are co-accused, including Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha.
- What
- The Special MP and MLA Court rejected Purohit's bail plea and his application to cancel a non-bailable warrant and remanded him to judicial custody.
- When
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026; he is expected to move the Bombay High Court for bail on Thursday.
- Where
- Mumbai; the case was registered at Colaba Police Station and heard by the Special MP and MLA Court.
- Why
- He failed to appear for a scheduled hearing, and the court found he was deliberately using delaying tactics and was unlikely to appear in future if released on bail.
Defense
Prosecution / Court
Reason for late appearance
Defense
Counsel said heavy traffic congestion and a queue at the court's entrance made Purohit late, the delay was not intentional, and he would remain punctual going forward.
Prosecution / Court
Prosecutor Ramesh Siroya and the court said Purohit deliberately remained absent when the case was called and entered only after the witness had left, forcing the witness to return and delaying the trial.
History of court compliance
Defense
The defense asked the court to cancel the warrant and grant bail, arguing the delay was beyond Purohit's control.
Prosecution / Court
The court noted NBWs had been issued against Purohit on earlier occasions and that he had once paid a Rs 2,000 fine to cancel them, saying he had developed a habit of violating bail conditions.
Likelihood of future attendance
Defense
Counsel assured the court that Purohit would cooperate and be punctual for all future hearings if released.
Prosecution / Court
The court said there was no possibility Purohit would appear in future if released on bail and therefore remanded him to judicial custody.
- Accused
- Akash Purohit, BJP corporator and son of late former Maharashtra minister Raj Purohit
- Court
- Special MP and MLA Court, Mumbai (Special Judge Mahesh Jadhav)
- Case year
- 2020
- Case subject
- Protest over electricity bill hike during COVID-19 lockdown
- Charges
- Wrongful confinement of then BEST general manager; assault on police personnel
- Co-accused
- 19 others, including Rahul Narwekar and Mangal Prabhat Lodha
- Prior penalty
- Rs 2,000 fine paid earlier to cancel similar warrants
- Next step
- Bail plea expected in Bombay High Court on Thursday
Sources
BJP corporator held after session court rejects plea seeking cancellation of non-bailable warrant
2020 Mumbai protest: BJP corporator held as court rejects plea for cancellation of NBW
